TFCon Charlotte adds Gregg Berger, and the show may return in 2016 if attendance is strong. A U.S. Masterpiece Starscream preorder at $59.99 sells out in minutes. Combined photos of Optimus Maximus look nearly colorless. In third-party news, MakeToys’ Pandinus impresses, while a new company’s $169 Sky Guardian draws scorn.
News
Optimus Maximus Shown Fully Combined
Photos show Optimus Maximus fully combined. Rob notes the limbs are the four whitest Transformers available, plus white hands and feet. Earlier speculation that the inner torso had changed appears wrong. Adding Legends Rodimus to the chest should bring some color. One host is watching for upgrade parts that turn the mold into Thunderclash. [Source: Seibertron]
Gregg Berger Will Attend TFCon Charlotte
Gregg Berger, the voice of G1 Grimlock, will attend TFCon Charlotte. The crew notes few Grimlock toys on shelves today use his voice. Don warns dealers often raise prices on a guest’s characters during the show. [Source: TFW2005]
U.S. Masterpiece Starscream Preorder Sells Out
The U.S. release of MP-11 Starscream went up for preorder at $59.99, with a limit of five, and sold out almost at once. The crew expects cancellations or a price increase before release. If the price holds, it suggests Prowl and Bluestreak cost more because of licensing fees. [Source: TFormers]
TFCon Charlotte Could Return in 2016
On Being Awesome, Rob Springer shared that TFCon Charlotte will continue in 2016 if attendance is “fantastic.” Brian is skeptical because the threshold is undefined, but he hopes it succeeds. One host notes TFCon’s Chicago show earned strong word of mouth. Everyone urges East Coast fans to support the show.
Third-Party Test Shots and Prototypes
The Ages 3 and Up Facebook page posted test shots from Fans Project, MakeToys and others. MakeToys’ Pandinus, its Scorponok homage, is enormous, with far more mass than Utopia. The crew finds Fans Project’s Lost Exo Realm Grimlock promising but dislikes the female Dinobot. MakeToys also has the third Headmaster Hardhead homage. MakeToys’ Visualizers are now out, and each robot holds part of the camera lens. [Source: not found]
Sky Guardian Preorders Open at $169
A new third-party company opened preorders for Sky Guardian, a Skyfire and Jetfire homage, at $169. Rob Springer said it looks like a Big Lots quick-change toy. Don says even Kronos looks better in robot mode. Diecast offers to review a sample and change his mind. The crew suggests new companies start with smaller, cheaper figures, as Mecha Ideas did with its Jumpstarters. [Source: TFormers]
SparkToys Shows a War Within Optimus Prime
SparkToys showed an Optimus Prime based on the Dreamwave War Within design. Brian thinks it resembles a Hulkbuster. Diecast saw the prototype at a New Jersey convention and liked it in person. Others have little Dreamwave nostalgia. [Source: TFormers]
This Week in History
BotCon 1995, the second BotCon, took place this week, organized by Raksha. It brought Nightracer, the first official female Transformer toy. In 2003, the first Micron Booster series came out in Japan through TF Station affiliate stores.
On TFormers This Week
Rob reviewed Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #8, and Exvee reviewed The Transformers #44. TFormers also posted excerpts from an interview with Mairghread Scott and Corin Howell about Windblade and Combiner Hunters.
What We Got This Week
Matt got Titan Class Devastator and loves it combined, less so the individual Constructicons. He also got Transformers Adventure Roadblock, which he kept grabbing by mistake while combining. His first subscription figure, Serpentor, has a waxy yellow he dislikes, though he loves the mold. He bought more Vipers to serve as Serpentor’s minions.
John got Serpentor first, as usual. He prefers Ratbat but likes the Scourge mold and the alternate head.
Don has nothing in hand yet, but a Robots in Disguise G1-colored Grimlock is on the way.
Radio Free Cybertron is the world's first and oldest toy and action figure podcast — broadcasting from the heart of the Transformers fan community since October 1999. What started as a scrappy fan show has grown into an institution, with nearly 1,000 episodes and over 25 years of coverage. Every week, host Brian Kilby and the RFC crew dig into the latest Transformers news, toy reveals, collecting, and everything hitting shelves from Hasbro, Takara, and beyond. No fluff, no hype — just informed, passionate collectors who have been doing this longer than anyone else on the planet. The original. The longest running. Till all are one.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14:59 — 34.6MB) | Embed
The RFC Mini-cast – 053: Titans Returned
Radio Free Cybertron – 06/16/00
Radio Free Cybertron – 410